At the age of 24, Ryan Johnston was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic immune system.

"When I found out I had cancer, I felt like my entire life was turned upside down. As someone who has always been the first to help others and lend a hand, it was extremely difficult for me to come to terms with the fact that I now was going to need help," Ryan said.

The treatment Ryan received at Grand River inspired him to start an endowment fund, a way to give that creates an impact in health care for generations.

Donations made to an endowment are invested permanently, and its investment earnings are used to provide funding to the hospital

The Ryan Johnston Family and Friends Endowment supports young adult cancer patients who are struggling to afford treatments that are not covered by private or public health insurance.

"When my cancer journey began, several people asked how they could help," Ryan told us. "My family and I decided to sell bracelets with the sayings 'RJ Strong' and 'Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough People Do.' These bracelets were a subtle, yet powerful, display of support that lifted my spirit through the toughest of times. Ultimately, the most important thing was that the bracelet campaign assisted others at a time when they needed it most. I'm forever indebted to those who supported me and helped build our endowment fund."

But Ryan wasn't finished, far from it. In 2021, he hosted the first annual RJ Strong Golf Tournament, raising more than $15,000 for local cancer care.